CRPhoenix
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I'm new to aquariums. I have a 29 gallon tank, which I am keeping at 68-70 degrees because I plan to get goldfish when cycling is done. I have a full spectrum 27 watt fluorescent bulb for lighting. After some internet searching, decided to try fishless cycling with pure ammonia. After 2 weeks of no nitrites and more internet research, I decided to add plants. Bought a sword plant, anubis, and a bunch each of anacharis, hornwort, wisteria, and myrio. A few days later, nitrites started to appear, and a few days after that nitrates were detectable. By a week after adding the plants, the nitrites measured at the highest level detected by the test kit 5.0 (could be higher, no way to tell), and the nitrites at 5.0. The ammonia level has been going down to 0, so I keep adding small amounts of liquid ammonia each day. The nitrites and nitrates have been testing at the same level for the last 10 days (5.0), with the ammonia varying between 0 and 1.0 depending on how recently I added the liquid ammonia.
Now the plant problem. After about 2 weeks in the tank, the anacharis leaves are going transparent and limp, except for some newer growth at the tips. The needle-like leaves of the hornwort have mostly dropped off of the lower 2/3 of the plant stems. The wisteria has also lost some leaves, but looks better than the hornwort and anacharis. I think the anubis is getting some brown spots on the leaves, but maybe I just wasn't observant enough when I put it in the tank.
My questions:
1) Have I done something to stall the cycling, or am I just impatient?
2) What could be causing the problem with the plants? I thought plants would help with the cycling. Could the (unknown) nitrite level be too high? Is the light level wrong? I thought the hornwort and anacharis were tough plants. We have hard water in our area. PH in the tank was 7.6 when I tested it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Now the plant problem. After about 2 weeks in the tank, the anacharis leaves are going transparent and limp, except for some newer growth at the tips. The needle-like leaves of the hornwort have mostly dropped off of the lower 2/3 of the plant stems. The wisteria has also lost some leaves, but looks better than the hornwort and anacharis. I think the anubis is getting some brown spots on the leaves, but maybe I just wasn't observant enough when I put it in the tank.
My questions:
1) Have I done something to stall the cycling, or am I just impatient?
2) What could be causing the problem with the plants? I thought plants would help with the cycling. Could the (unknown) nitrite level be too high? Is the light level wrong? I thought the hornwort and anacharis were tough plants. We have hard water in our area. PH in the tank was 7.6 when I tested it.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.